I did my bench seat restoration - tell me what you think?
#16
06-27-2006, 07:20 AM
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
sources
scottmotorsports and others
I got my springs from Rochford supply Upholstery supply store -
http://www.rochfordsupply.com
Under the Upholstery Accessories menu on the left you will find the different heights of Coil Springs.
A second source was http://www.perfectfit.com. They actually specifiy "Hard" or "Soft" spring which is based on the diameter of the coil in the center of the spring.
That was it!
Shipping from Rockford Supply was quick, out of Ohio, and they were helpful when I asked about my options with High density foam. He suggested that I try to use springs first since it was cheaper ($10 for a bundle of 10) and if not they could actually custom form my seat if I wanted to use the foam or send me the foam and I do it myself, but I'm sure if you went foam you could find some local shop to shape the foam for you.
From Perfect Fit, their high density foam goes for about $40 a sheet that is an inch high and about 5 feet wide. My 51 bench is about 4 feet wide, but about 5 inches high at the front. So 5 sheets at $200 to get the foam, then you have to form it and what if you accidently mess up in the cutting and sanding like I know I would do.
It would be a challenge, but I might try that on my other 51 in the future but not on my current project. I wanted the seat to be the least of my cost in restoration.
Also I don't think it matters the type of springs you get because they will be unseen. You can squeeze them and hog tie the tall ones to the short ones to get the needed slope. For example, on the 51 bench the 7 inch middle springs are squeezed and hogtied to the 5 inch rear springs on the rear of the bench to create the slope. If you look at the springs in the truck you will see they did the same thing. There springs did not have a wide base like the ones I bought, so mine appear to be more stable. The strength are the middle coils and they are much tighter than the original 51 springs and a thicker gauge
I also had to weld some rods to some of the frame around the bench that were broken off that gives it support around the edges.
Hope this helps.
I got my springs from Rochford supply Upholstery supply store -
http://www.rochfordsupply.com
Under the Upholstery Accessories menu on the left you will find the different heights of Coil Springs.
A second source was http://www.perfectfit.com. They actually specifiy "Hard" or "Soft" spring which is based on the diameter of the coil in the center of the spring.
That was it!
Shipping from Rockford Supply was quick, out of Ohio, and they were helpful when I asked about my options with High density foam. He suggested that I try to use springs first since it was cheaper ($10 for a bundle of 10) and if not they could actually custom form my seat if I wanted to use the foam or send me the foam and I do it myself, but I'm sure if you went foam you could find some local shop to shape the foam for you.
From Perfect Fit, their high density foam goes for about $40 a sheet that is an inch high and about 5 feet wide. My 51 bench is about 4 feet wide, but about 5 inches high at the front. So 5 sheets at $200 to get the foam, then you have to form it and what if you accidently mess up in the cutting and sanding like I know I would do.
It would be a challenge, but I might try that on my other 51 in the future but not on my current project. I wanted the seat to be the least of my cost in restoration.
Also I don't think it matters the type of springs you get because they will be unseen. You can squeeze them and hog tie the tall ones to the short ones to get the needed slope. For example, on the 51 bench the 7 inch middle springs are squeezed and hogtied to the 5 inch rear springs on the rear of the bench to create the slope. If you look at the springs in the truck you will see they did the same thing. There springs did not have a wide base like the ones I bought, so mine appear to be more stable. The strength are the middle coils and they are much tighter than the original 51 springs and a thicker gauge
I also had to weld some rods to some of the frame around the bench that were broken off that gives it support around the edges.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by sancochojoe; 06-27-2006 at 07:34 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
NormH
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
5
12-17-2006 04:58 PM
sancochojoe
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
06-06-2006 07:46 PM
